Border Closure Not Targeted At Neighbouring Countries — Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday said border closure measure taken by his administration was aimed at checking smuggling of goods into Nigeria. .
The federal government had in August partially closed its land borders
Buhari speaking during an interactive session with some Nigerians in London, said the closure is aimed boosting and consolidating the country’s security and economy.
In a statement issued after the meeting, Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, said the president explained that the period of closure will be used for stock-taking on threats to the nation’s security and economy.
“He noted that Nigerian farmers have been celebrating the closure which has drastically reduced smuggling of agricultural produce as well as arms and ammunition,” the statement read.
“President Buhari attributed the country’s virtual food security position to the ‘very good last three rainy seasons;’ the federal government’s reduction in the price of fertilisers by 50 per cent and the presidential directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria not to give foreign exchange for food imports thereby saving the nations billions of naira.
“Commending Nigerians in the Diaspora for their huge home remittances – more than $25 billion in 2018 – the President also lauded their individual performances in their various fields of expertise.
“Explaining the achievements of his administration in implementing its three-point campaign agenda by focusing on fixing the economy, providing security and tackling corruption, the President said Nigeria’s ‘huge, vibrant youth population’ have been encouraged to go back to the farms and are “living decent and respectable lifestyles.”
“On security, he said ‘it is common sense that you can only run the country if it is secured,’ adding that the country ‘has not done badly in the northeast.’”
The measure had ignited controversy and nearly straining the relationship of Nigeria with neighbouring west African countries with John Mahama, a former Ghananian president saying such measure would have a tremendous negative impact on many small and medium businesses, especially in neighbouring Togo, Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire that rely on inter-country trade.
